Before my son experienced a night terror, I had little understanding of what they entailed. I had heard the term but often confused it with nightmares. However, I can now assure you that night terrors and nightmares are worlds apart. It’s similar to the first time you learn about a deep-sea anglerfish; at first, it seems harmless, but then you realize just how astonishingly bizarre it truly is.
One evening, when my son was just five years old, we were startled awake by his frantic screams of, “Mom! Mooooom!” I assumed he was having a nightmare, so I rushed to his room to comfort him. When I entered, I found him sitting upright in bed, tears streaming down his face, completely inconsolable. I attempted my usual comforting techniques—reassurance and gentle words—but this situation felt far more intense than a typical bad dream. His eyes were wide open, yet it was as if he were in another world, unable to see or hear me.
My partner joined me, hoping to assist, so we turned on the light. Imagine the terror of watching your child shriek for you, wide-eyed and seemingly lost in a trance. I tried to position myself directly in his line of sight, hoping to bring him back to reality. However, his gaze drifted past me, and he continued to scream my name, oblivious to my presence.
Despite our efforts, we couldn’t rouse him from this episode, and panic began to set in. “What do we do?” I kept repeating, feeling tears well up. I was completely at a loss. Had I believed in demon possession, I might have called for an exorcist right then and there. In a different era, my little boy might have faced dire consequences simply for this terrifying experience. Eventually, he calmed down and fell back asleep, with no memory of the event come morning.
The next day, I recounted the incident to a friend, who immediately identified it as a night terror, explaining that her children had experienced them as well. She shared a particularly vivid memory of holding her son in their car while he screamed for her during a camping trip. More friends chimed in, sharing similar stories of their children’s night terrors.
How is it that this phenomenon is rarely discussed among parents? Add “night terrors” to the list of those unexpected realities of parenthood, right alongside postpartum recovery and infant sleep issues. While it’s possible your child may never encounter night terrors, it’s crucial to recognize them if they do occur. There’s no need to summon an exorcist.
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In summary, night terrors can be a frightening experience for both children and parents. Understanding what they are and how to respond can help alleviate some of that fear. Though your child may never experience them, being prepared can provide peace of mind.